that’s interesting! towards a phenomenology of sociology and a sociology of phenomenology murray...

That’s That’s Interesting!Interesting!

Towards a Phenomenology of Towards a Phenomenology of SociologySociology

and a Sociology of Phenomenology and a Sociology of Phenomenology

MURRAY S. DAVISMURRAY S. DAVIS

Presented byPresented byOLGA DZYUBINAOLGA DZYUBINA

PART I PART I

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

What makes a theory What makes a theory great? great?

•a theorist is considered great, a theorist is considered great, not because his/her theories are not because his/her theories are truetrue, but because they are , but because they are interestinginteresting

•the truth of a theory has very the truth of a theory has very little to do with its impactlittle to do with its impact

•the capacity to stimulate interest the capacity to stimulate interest is a necessary characteristic of is a necessary characteristic of greatness greatness

What theories are What theories are considered interesting?considered interesting?

• the interesting is something which the interesting is something which engages the attentionengages the attention

• The defining characteristic of a theory The defining characteristic of a theory which some audience considers interesting which some audience considers interesting is that it stands out in their attention is that it stands out in their attention in contrast to the web of routinely in contrast to the web of routinely taken-for-granted propositions which make taken-for-granted propositions which make up the structure of their every-day life up the structure of their every-day life

• a new theory will be noticed only when it a new theory will be noticed only when it denies an old truthdenies an old truth

What theories are What theories are considered in the paper considered in the paper

•only social, particularly only social, particularly sociological theories are sociological theories are analyzedanalyzed

•only “synthetic a posteriori only “synthetic a posteriori propositions” are analyzedpropositions” are analyzed– a “synthetic a posteriori a “synthetic a posteriori proposition” is an assertion proposition” is an assertion referring to the empirical world referring to the empirical world and are not merely matters of and are not merely matters of definitiondefinition

Discovering what makes a Discovering what makes a theory interestingtheory interesting

•Large number of famous Large number of famous interesting social propositions interesting social propositions have been analyzed by the authorhave been analyzed by the author

•Only those theories which have Only those theories which have been in “wide circulation” have been in “wide circulation” have been consideredbeen considered

The common element of The common element of all interesting all interesting propositionspropositions

All interesting proposition All interesting proposition always deny certain always deny certain assumptions of their assumptions of their audienceaudience

PART II PART II

THE INDEX OF THE THE INDEX OF THE INTERESTINGINTERESTING

The index of the The index of the InterestingInteresting

•Contains twelve logical categoriesContains twelve logical categories

•Seven categories characterize a Seven categories characterize a single phenomenonsingle phenomenon

•Five categories characterize the Five categories characterize the relations among multiple phenomenarelations among multiple phenomena

The characterization of a single The characterization of a single phenomenonphenomenon

(i) ORGANIZATION(i) ORGANIZATION• a. What seems to be a disorganized a. What seems to be a disorganized (unstructured) phenomenon is in reality (unstructured) phenomenon is in reality an organized (structured) phenomenon.an organized (structured) phenomenon.

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: Ferdinand Tonnies’s assertion in Community and Ferdinand Tonnies’s assertion in Community and Society that the relations among people within all Society that the relations among people within all societies, which were considered at the time he wrote to be societies, which were considered at the time he wrote to be manifold and indeterminate, can in fact be organized around manifold and indeterminate, can in fact be organized around two main types.two main types.

• b. What seems to be an organized b. What seems to be an organized (structured) phenomenon is in reality a (structured) phenomenon is in reality a disorganized (unstructured) phenomenon.disorganized (unstructured) phenomenon.

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: Karl Marx’s assertion in Capital that the economic Karl Marx’s assertion in Capital that the economic processes of bourgeois society, which were considered at the processes of bourgeois society, which were considered at the time he wrote to be organized in one way, are in fact not time he wrote to be organized in one way, are in fact not organized in that way (but rather organized in another way). organized in that way (but rather organized in another way).


(ii) COMPOSITION(ii) COMPOSITION• a. What seem to be assorted a. What seem to be assorted heterogeneous phenomena are in reality heterogeneous phenomena are in reality composed of a single element.composed of a single element.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE: Sigmund Freud’s assertion throughout his Collected Sigmund Freud’s assertion throughout his Collected Works that the behavior of children, primitives, neurotics, Works that the behavior of children, primitives, neurotics, and adults in crowds, which were considered at the time he and adults in crowds, which were considered at the time he wrote to be unassociated in any way with one another, are in wrote to be unassociated in any way with one another, are in fact all various manifestations of the same instinctual fact all various manifestations of the same instinctual drives.drives.

• b. What seems to be a single phenomenon b. What seems to be a single phenomenon is in reality composed of assorted is in reality composed of assorted heterogeneous elements.heterogeneous elements.

EXAMPLE: Max Weber’s assertion in Economy and Society that the EXAMPLE: Max Weber’s assertion in Economy and Society that the stratification system, which was considered at the time he stratification system, which was considered at the time he wrote to be monolithic, is in fact composed of the three wrote to be monolithic, is in fact composed of the three independent variables of economic class, status prestige, and independent variables of economic class, status prestige, and political power. political power.


(iii) ABSTRACTION(iii) ABSTRACTION

• a. What seems to be an individual a. What seems to be an individual phenomenon is in reality a holistic phenomenon is in reality a holistic phenomenon.phenomenon.

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: Emile Durkeim’s assertion in Suicide that suicide, which Emile Durkeim’s assertion in Suicide that suicide, which was considered at the time he wrote to be a behavior was considered at the time he wrote to be a behavior characteristic of an individual, is in fact a process characteristic of an individual, is in fact a process characteristic of a society.characteristic of a society.

• b. What seems to be a holistic phenomenon b. What seems to be a holistic phenomenon is in reality an individual phenomenon.is in reality an individual phenomenon.

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: Sigmund Freud’s assertion in “Thoughts for the Times on Sigmund Freud’s assertion in “Thoughts for the Times on War and Death” that war, which was considered at the time he wrote War and Death” that war, which was considered at the time he wrote to be a social phenomenon, is in fact a psychological phenomenon.to be a social phenomenon, is in fact a psychological phenomenon.


(iv) GENERALIZATION(iv) GENERALIZATION• a. What seems to be a local phenomenon a. What seems to be a local phenomenon is in reality a general phenomenon.is in reality a general phenomenon.

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: Karl Mannheim’s assertion in Ideology and Utopia that Karl Mannheim’s assertion in Ideology and Utopia that the ideological limitation and distortion of thought processes, the ideological limitation and distortion of thought processes, which was considered at the time he wrote to effect only the which was considered at the time he wrote to effect only the bourgeois class, in fact effects all social classes.bourgeois class, in fact effects all social classes.

• b. What seems to be a general phenomenon b. What seems to be a general phenomenon is in reality a local phenomenon.is in reality a local phenomenon.

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: Bronislaw Malinowski’s assertion in Sex and Repression Bronislaw Malinowski’s assertion in Sex and Repression in Savage Society that the Oedipus Complex, which was in Savage Society that the Oedipus Complex, which was considered at the time he wrote to be a human universal, in considered at the time he wrote to be a human universal, in fact does not occur in all societies.fact does not occur in all societies.


(v) STABILIZATION(v) STABILIZATION• a. What seems to be a stable and a. What seems to be a stable and unchanging phenomenon is in reality unchanging phenomenon is in reality an unstable and changing phenomenon.an unstable and changing phenomenon.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE: Karl Marx’s assertion in Capital that the social Karl Marx’s assertion in Capital that the social organization of bourgeois society, which was considered at organization of bourgeois society, which was considered at the time he wrote to be permanent, is in fact about to be the time he wrote to be permanent, is in fact about to be suddenly and dramatically transformed.suddenly and dramatically transformed.

• b. What seems to be an unstable and b. What seems to be an unstable and changing phenomenon is in reality a changing phenomenon is in reality a stable and unchanging phenomenon.stable and unchanging phenomenon.

EXAMPLE: Georg Simmel’s assertion in Conflict that any EXAMPLE: Georg Simmel’s assertion in Conflict that any conflict-ridden social organization, which was considered conflict-ridden social organization, which was considered at the time he wrote to be on the verge of transformation, at the time he wrote to be on the verge of transformation, may in fact be capable of continuing indefinitely as it is may in fact be capable of continuing indefinitely as it is ( in a steady-state of conflict).( in a steady-state of conflict).


(vi) FUNCTION(vi) FUNCTION• a. What seems to be a phenomenon that a. What seems to be a phenomenon that functions ineffectively as a means for functions ineffectively as a means for the attainment of an end is in reality a the attainment of an end is in reality a phenomenon that functions effectively.phenomenon that functions effectively.

EXAMPLE: Robert Merton’s assertion in Social Theory and EXAMPLE: Robert Merton’s assertion in Social Theory and Social Structure that the political machine, which was Social Structure that the political machine, which was considered at the time he wrote to be an inefficient considered at the time he wrote to be an inefficient institution for obtaining community goals, is in fact an institution for obtaining community goals, is in fact an efficient institution for obtaining community goals.efficient institution for obtaining community goals.

• b. What seems to be a phenomenon that b. What seems to be a phenomenon that functions effectively as a means for the functions effectively as a means for the attainment of an end is in reality a attainment of an end is in reality a phenomenon that functions ineffectively.phenomenon that functions ineffectively.

EXAMPLE: Herbert Marcuse’s assertion in Repressive EXAMPLE: Herbert Marcuse’s assertion in Repressive Tolerance that the tradition of tolerance in America, Tolerance that the tradition of tolerance in America, which was considered at the time he wrote to be a value which was considered at the time he wrote to be a value that fostered the goal of a liberated society, is in fact that fostered the goal of a liberated society, is in fact a value that hindered the goal of a liberated society.a value that hindered the goal of a liberated society.


(vii) EVALUATION(vii) EVALUATION

• a. What seems to be a bad phenomenon a. What seems to be a bad phenomenon is in reality a good phenomenon.is in reality a good phenomenon.

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: R. D. Laing’s assertion in The Politics of R. D. Laing’s assertion in The Politics of Experience that schizophrenia, which was considered at Experience that schizophrenia, which was considered at the time he wrote to be a bad thing, is in fact a good the time he wrote to be a bad thing, is in fact a good thing.thing.

• b. What seems to be a good phenomenon b. What seems to be a good phenomenon is in reality a bad phenomenon.is in reality a bad phenomenon.

EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: Friedrich Nietzsche’s assertion in On the Friedrich Nietzsche’s assertion in On the Genealogy of Morals that Christian morality, which was Genealogy of Morals that Christian morality, which was considered at the time he wrote to be a good thing, is in considered at the time he wrote to be a good thing, is in fact a bad thing.fact a bad thing.

The relations among multiple The relations among multiple phenomenaphenomena

(viii) CO-RELATION(viii) CO-RELATION• a. What seem to be unrelated a. What seem to be unrelated (independent) phenomena are in reality (independent) phenomena are in reality correlated (interdependent) phenomena.correlated (interdependent) phenomena.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE: August Hollingshead’s assertion in Social Class and August Hollingshead’s assertion in Social Class and Mental Illness that social class and mental illness, which Mental Illness that social class and mental illness, which were considered at the time he wrote to be uncorrelated, are were considered at the time he wrote to be uncorrelated, are in fact correlated.in fact correlated.

• b. What seem to be related b. What seem to be related (interdependent) phenomena are in (interdependent) phenomena are in reality uncorrelated (independent) reality uncorrelated (independent) phenomena.phenomena.

EXAMPLE: Emile Durkeim’s assertion in Suicide that suicide and EXAMPLE: Emile Durkeim’s assertion in Suicide that suicide and such other phenomena as psychopathological states, race, such other phenomena as psychopathological states, race, heredity, which were considered at the time he wrote to be heredity, which were considered at the time he wrote to be correlated, are in fact uncorrelated.correlated, are in fact uncorrelated.


(ix) CO-EXISTENCE(ix) CO-EXISTENCE• a. What seem to be phenomena which can a. What seem to be phenomena which can exist together are in reality exist together are in reality phenomena which cannot exist together.phenomena which cannot exist together.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE: Denis de Rougemont’s assertion in Love in the Denis de Rougemont’s assertion in Love in the Western World that love and marriage, which were considered Western World that love and marriage, which were considered at the time he wrote to be compatible, are in fact at the time he wrote to be compatible, are in fact incompatible.incompatible.

• b. What seem to be phenomena which b. What seem to be phenomena which cannot exist together are in reality cannot exist together are in reality phenomena which can exist together.phenomena which can exist together.

EXAMPLE: Sigmund Freud’s assertion in Notes on a Case of EXAMPLE: Sigmund Freud’s assertion in Notes on a Case of Obsessional Neurosis that love and hate, which were Obsessional Neurosis that love and hate, which were considered at the time he wrote to be incompatible, are in considered at the time he wrote to be incompatible, are in fact compatible.fact compatible.


(x) CO-VARIATION(x) CO-VARIATION• a. What seems to be a positive co-a. What seems to be a positive co-variation between phenomena is in variation between phenomena is in reality a negative co-variation between reality a negative co-variation between phenomena. phenomena.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE: David Caplovitz’s assertion in The Poor Pay More that David Caplovitz’s assertion in The Poor Pay More that expenditures for many goods and services, which were expenditures for many goods and services, which were considered at the time he wrote to decrease at the lower considered at the time he wrote to decrease at the lower income levels, in fact increase at the lower income levels.income levels, in fact increase at the lower income levels.

• b. What seems to be a negative co-b. What seems to be a negative co-variation between phenomena is in variation between phenomena is in reality a positive co-variation between reality a positive co-variation between phenomena.phenomena.

EXAMPLE: Alexis de Tocqueville’s assertion in The Old Regime and EXAMPLE: Alexis de Tocqueville’s assertion in The Old Regime and the French Revolution that a social group’s desire for the French Revolution that a social group’s desire for revolution, which was considered at the time he wrote to revolution, which was considered at the time he wrote to decrease as their standard of living goes up, in fact decrease as their standard of living goes up, in fact increases as their standard of living goes up.increases as their standard of living goes up.


(xi) OPPOSITION(xi) OPPOSITION

• a. What seem to be similar (nearly a. What seem to be similar (nearly identical) phenomena are in reality identical) phenomena are in reality opposite phenomena.opposite phenomena.

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE: Marshall McLuhan’s assertion in Understanding Media Marshall McLuhan’s assertion in Understanding Media that radio and television, which were considered at the time that radio and television, which were considered at the time he wrote to be similar media, are in fact opposite media.he wrote to be similar media, are in fact opposite media.

• b. What seem to be opposite phenomena b. What seem to be opposite phenomena are in reality similar (nearly are in reality similar (nearly identical) phenomena.identical) phenomena.

EXAMPLE: Eric Hoffer’s assertion in The True Believer that EXAMPLE: Eric Hoffer’s assertion in The True Believer that the psychological motivations of those who join opposing the psychological motivations of those who join opposing social movements, which were considered at the time he wrote social movements, which were considered at the time he wrote to be opposite, are in fact similar.to be opposite, are in fact similar.


(xii) CAUSATION(xii) CAUSATION• a. What seems to be the independent a. What seems to be the independent phenomenon (variable) in a causal phenomenon (variable) in a causal relation is in reality the dependent relation is in reality the dependent phenomenon (variable). phenomenon (variable).

EXAMPLE:EXAMPLE: Howard Becker’s assertion in Outsiders that the Howard Becker’s assertion in Outsiders that the peculiar behavior of some individuals, which was considered at peculiar behavior of some individuals, which was considered at the time he wrote to cause other people to label them the time he wrote to cause other people to label them ‘deviants’, is in fact caused by other people labeling them ‘deviants’, is in fact caused by other people labeling them deviants.deviants.

• b. What seems to be the dependent b. What seems to be the dependent phenomenon (variable) in a causal phenomenon (variable) in a causal relation is in reality the independent relation is in reality the independent phenomenon (variable).phenomenon (variable).

EXAMPLE: Max Weber’s assertion in The Protestant Ethic and the EXAMPLE: Max Weber’s assertion in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism that the religion of a society, which was Spirit of Capitalism that the religion of a society, which was considered at the time he wrote to be determined by the economy considered at the time he wrote to be determined by the economy of the society, in fact determines the economy of the society.of the society, in fact determines the economy of the society.

PART III PART III

DISCUSSIONDISCUSSION

Non-interesting Non-interesting propositionspropositions

• the defining characteristic of an the defining characteristic of an interesting proposition can be used to interesting proposition can be used to determine the criterion of a non-determine the criterion of a non-interesting propositioninteresting proposition

•the criterion of a non-interesting the criterion of a non-interesting proposition: it does not deny some proposition: it does not deny some aspect of the assumption-ground of aspect of the assumption-ground of its audienceits audience

• three general types of non-interesting three general types of non-interesting propositionspropositions

Three general types of non-Three general types of non-interesting propositionsinteresting propositions

• Instead of Instead of denyingdenying some aspect of the some aspect of the assumption-ground of its audience, a assumption-ground of its audience, a proposition proposition affirmsaffirms some aspect of the some aspect of the assumption-ground of its audience.assumption-ground of its audience.– The audience’s response: “That’s obvious!”The audience’s response: “That’s obvious!”

• Instead of Instead of denyingdenying or or affirmingaffirming some aspect some aspect of the assumption-ground of its audience, a of the assumption-ground of its audience, a proposition proposition does not speak does not speak to any aspect of to any aspect of the assumption-ground of its audience at all.the assumption-ground of its audience at all.– The audience’s response: “That’s irrelevant!”The audience’s response: “That’s irrelevant!”

• Instead of Instead of denyingdenying some aspect of the some aspect of the assumption-ground of its audience, a assumption-ground of its audience, a proposition proposition deniesdenies the wholethe whole assumption- assumption-ground of its audience.ground of its audience.– The audience’s response: “That’s absurd!”The audience’s response: “That’s absurd!”

The Sociology of the The Sociology of the InterestingInteresting

• New field, called The Sociology of New field, called The Sociology of the Interesting is suggestedthe Interesting is suggested

• It studies the movement of the It studies the movement of the audience’s mind from one accepted audience’s mind from one accepted social theory to anothersocial theory to another

• This field is a combination of The This field is a combination of The Sociology of Phenomenology and The Sociology of Phenomenology and The Phenomenology of SociologyPhenomenology of Sociology

• It is intended to supplement the It is intended to supplement the Sociology of KnowledgeSociology of Knowledge

QuestionsQuestions

•To what extent the results of To what extent the results of this paper can be applicable to this paper can be applicable to other theories (not social ones)other theories (not social ones)

•Can we use the criterion of an Can we use the criterion of an interesting theory discovered in interesting theory discovered in this paper to create interesting this paper to create interesting papers in Computer Science? In papers in Computer Science? In Software Engineering? Software Engineering?

that’s interesting! towards a phenomenology of sociology and a sociology of phenomenology murray...

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